The

GreenhouseWestern Suburbs, NFP

By wisdom a house is built,

and through understanding it is established;

through knowledge its rooms are filled

with rare and beautiful treasures.

– Proverbs 24:3-4

Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet at the Last Supper by Ford Madox Brown

Putting

All the

Pieces Together

Putting

All the

Pieces Together

In collaboration with parents,

The Greenhouse,

exists to develop

a new generation of leaders

who will serve the common good and

in all things bring glory to God by:

The Mission of

1. Fostering a love for learning by sharpening academic

skills and intellectual discernment;

2. Promoting moral virtue and personal responsibility;

3. Nurturing authentic relationships in a community

marked by integrity, humility and love.

Fostering a Love for LearningWhile a store of facts about subjects, and sets of skills and techniques might be

helpful, they don’t necessarily equip a person for mastering new areas of

discovery. One needs basic tools for learning that can be applied to any

endeavor. Such tools include knowing how language works, understanding the

fundamental rules of various disciplines, constructing sound arguments (and

identifying fallacious ones), and communicating effectively – in other words,

learning how to learn. This is the goal of classical education – the educational

model of The Greenhouse.

Promoting VirtueVirtue does not occur spontaneously; but requires moral effort. Christian virtue

requires the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. We help students to see

the moral “forks in the road” they face and to recognize that God’s gracious

help is needed to navigate life honorably. Such training takes several forms. At

times, we teach explicitly about virtue; more often, we draw lessons and

illustrations from our areas of study. Other times, we coach students in specific

practices. All of the time, our staff seeks to model the very things we are

teaching and training. Naturally, prayer undergirds the whole process.

Nurturing Authentic RelationshipsBy definition, a community needs common ground. Ours is found in our faith in

Christ, our love of learning and our desire to see young people grow as servant

leaders. The glory of a community comes from its ability to enjoy differences

while celebrating its common life. Living in community is hard work, yet deeply

rewarding. Together we seek to make The Greenhouse a safe place to grow

and to try new things. Among other means, we build community through

prayer, student buddies, a Code of Conduct, and collaborative projects like our

play. As a group, we seek to encourage one another, work for the common

good, speak honestly and disagree honorably – in short, learn to live with

relational integrity.

These are lofty goals. How well does it really work?Some weeks better than others. As a relatively new institution, we know that

there is considerable room for growth and refinement in all that we do. (And

we hope we’re still saying that fifty years from now!) The best answer to the

question will come from families who are currently enrolled; we’ll gladly put

you in touch with some if you would like.

The Greenhouse in One Sentence...The Greenhouse is a center for Christian and classical studies within an

environment which nurtures personal growth and depth of community.

A Christian CenterFoundationally, a Christian person has a vital faith in Jesus Christ alone as

Savior and Lord. We promote a Judeo-Christian worldview in our classes

and relationships rooted in the Scriptures. In recognition that Christians

come from a variety of church traditions, we receive the Apostles’ Creed

and the Statement of Faith of the National Association of Evangelicals as

our doctrinal statements. Our Board, faculty and staff personally espouse

one or both of these.

Classical StudiesA truly classical education is classical in purpose, structure and content.

Purpose: We seek to instill virtue in our students, prepare them to be

life-long, independent learners, and develop responsible citizenship.

Structure: We follow the classical educational pattern of the Trivium, a

teaching model that seeks to tailor subject matter and intellectual skills to

a student’s cognitive development through Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric.

Grammar (grades 1-4) emphasizes mastery of the fundamental rules of

each subject. This stage includes memorization of rules, facts, stories,

dates, and events that relate to a given subject.

Logic (grades 5-8) emphasizes the ordered relationships of particulars in

each subject to assist the student in developing critical thinking skills in

order to examine relationships within and between fields of study. At this

stage the student asks investigative questions related to the subject and

uses logic/reasoning skills to derive meaning and draw conclusions.

Rhetoric (grades 9-12) emphasizes the clear expression of the grammar

and logic of each subject through speech and writing. Oral and written

skills are developed in order for each student to persuasively express their

findings and opinions in a given subject.

A classical education emphasizes hard work and discipline coupled with

inspiration and a love of learning.

Content: A classical curriculum draws extensively from primary

sources. It focuses on the great ideas, themes, and people of western

civilization, utilizing great literature through the ages. The visual and

performing arts draw from the repertoire of the masters.

It should be readily apparent that we cannot provide a complete classical

education in one day a week, but the hallmarks of a classical education –

the grammar/logic/rhetoric sequence, immersion in the material, use of

primary sources, emphasis on history – are explicitly part of our structure.

A complete and

generous education

. . . fits a man to

perform justly,

skillfully, and

magnanimously

all the offices,

both private and

public, of peace

and war.–John Milton in Of Education,

June 1644

LevelsWe offer courses for children in grades 1-4 (Grammar I & II), grades 5-8

(Logic I & II) and grades 9-12 (Rhetoric). Each year all of our students

study generally the same time period, but each level focuses on different

aspects of that time period and develops different intellectual skills.

Core DisciplinesAt every level we offer humanities and science. In the grammar and logic

level, the humanities comprise “History & Literature”, “Art” and the

“Performing Arts.” In the Rhetoric level, the humanities comprise

“History , Literature & Fine Arts” and “Rhetoric.”

Four-year History CycleYear 1: Antiquities & Classical Period (Creation to 476 AD)

Year 2: Medieval & Renaissance (400-1650 AD)

Year 3: Reformation & Early Modern Period (1500-1815 AD)

Year 4: Modern & Contemporary Period (1800-present)

Home School SupportThe Greenhouse serves in collaboration with home-schooling parents, the

primary educators of their children. We believe that the coursework and

environment of The Greenhouse provide advantages that are difficult to

achieve in a home school alone. It greatly benefits students to have their

home studies parallel and reinforce those of The Greenhouse. To this end

we provide syllabi for all of our courses and are developing scope and

sequence for each discipline at each level. These are designed to enable

parents to more easily develop their children’s home school curriculum.

Greenhouse FacultyThe strength of The Greenhouse

rests on the caliber of our

faculty. We look for individuals

called and equipped to fulfill all

three facets of our mission.

Therefore, we call on the Lord

to bring them to us through

prayer. We put potential

teachers through an extensive

interviewing process and speak

with numerous references.

Some have been teachers in

public or private schools; others

have taught in non-traditional

settings. All of our teachers love

the Lord and love children. They

are passionate about their

subjects. Together our faculty is

growing in their ability to call

students to high standards while shepherding their students’ hearts.

A Few Resources on Classical EducationRecovering the Lost Tools of Learning by Douglas Wilson

The Well-Trained Mind by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer

website: www.welltrainedmind.com

Classical Christian Homeschooling at www.classical-homeschooling.org

Trivium Pursuit at www.triviumpursuit.com

Ideally, what will a Greenhouse graduate look like?Through participation in a Christian community, students will develop

friendships marked by honesty, authenticity and charity. Their friendships will

encompass adults (faculty, staff and Greenhouse parents) and older & younger

students, as well as their peers. Over the years, they will sharpen teamwork

skills and understand the nature of collaboration. The recognition of their gifts,

talents, passions and calling will be refined in trusted and enduring relation-

ships. They will know experientially how to relate to others with integrity and

compassion, how to resolve conflicts, how to work as a team. Lord willing,

relational humility will characterize the Greenhouse community.

Students will have seen, been taught, and encouraged to articulate and

espouse a biblical worldview. Students and faculty will let the word of Christ

dwell in them richly, allowing it to be deeply implanted in their hearts. The

joyful work of prayer will be practiced widely and held in high esteem as

essential to life in Christ. A God-centered life of devotion (rather than a man-

centered life of ambition) will be seen as the purpose, means and ends of one’s

life. They will be challenged to embrace a passionate and ruthless trust in

Jesus Christ.

Students will leave The Greenhouse with exposure to some of the great

books of western civilization, as well as the skills to read a great book. They

will have a working knowledge of western civilization and a framework into

which to incorporate further learning. They will have basic skill in and appre-

ciation for the fine arts, and will value aesthetic expression by the degree to

which such reflect the good, the true and the beautiful as encountered in Christ

and His creation. They will have a deep appreciation for the created world, its

orderliness and its exploration through the natural sciences.

Students will be able exercise logical thought and judgment, coupled with

biblical discernment. They will be skillful in honorable argumentation. They will

have had opportunity to critically interact with some streams of historic and

contemporary thought that lie outside a Christian worldview. Students will have

received training and experience in the powerful and persuasive use of the

written and spoken word. It is our hope that graduates of The Greenhouse will

be prepared to thrive in a competitive university setting, should God so call

them. Above all these, we desire to see our students and faculty marked by

curiosity, the joy of learning and intellectual humility.

The students will leave The Greenhouse having had years of practice

serving younger students. Many will have had opportunity to teach or mentor

younger students. An ethos of leadership through service will be directly

taught, modeled and practiced. The Greenhouse will find specific avenues to

serve the local community in meaningful and ongoing ways. Students will see

servant leadership as a way of life, which enjoys God’s blessing.

Discerning

the

Fit

Discerning

the

Fit

These questions will help you discern whether

The Greenhouse is a good place for your family...

How can we get a better look?First, we recommend that you talk with current families. They can tell

you first-hand about the value of The Greenhouse. They can share with

you what we do well, and where we need to improve. Most of all, they

can tell you what it’s like being part of the Greenhouse community.

Can we see The Greenhouse in operation?Yes, we urge prospective families to set up an appointment to see

The Greenhouse in action. Call the office to schedule an appointment. At

the end of your appointment, generally you will have an opportunity to ask

questions of the Headmaster. (For the observations, we ask that a parent

attend without their children.)

What else can we do to understand your mission?Several times a year, we present an evening known as the Greenhouse

Sampler. This is a great time to hear the vision and to meet current

families and a teacher or two. The Sampler also includes a time for Q&A

– and some free munchies, too!

What kind of families are you looking for?While no family perfectly represents all these traits, we have seen that

students who thrive at The Greenhouse come from families with a few

common features:

Ø A profound relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ,

Ø Well ordered relationships in the home between husband and wife,

parents and children, and between siblings,

Ø Ready obedience (of a child) with a happy heart, and

Ø An academically purposeful home school.

How can we discern whether or not The Greenhouse

is a good fit for us?The most important facet of any discernment process is prayer. Don’t

overlook this marvelous resource. As you weigh all that you learn about

The Greenhouse, prayerfully listen to the Lord. We recommend that

spouses pray together about the decision to apply. From our perpective,

applying for enrollment is simply part of the discernment process. You do

not need to make a final decision until you are offered enrollment at the

end of the process, which allows more time for discernment.

What is the first step in the admissions process?The first step, aptly, is submitting an application. The application will probably

require an hour to complete. We strongly recommend that spouses work on it

together. You will also need to ask others to complete reference forms.

What happens after you receive our application?After we receive your application, we will set up an interview for you, your

spouse and your child. During part of the interview, your child will meet with

a faculty member who will ask them several questions. Also, your child will

need to participate in a half-day classroom exercise with other students. The

exercise helps us assess some of your child’s academic skills and classroom

behaviors. We also will be following up on the references you provide.

How do you decide whether to offer us enrollment?Your family will be prayerfully considered on its own merits. Our decision will

be based on several factors, including (1) the available space and the compo-

sition of your child’s potential class, (2) the similarity of mission between your

family and The Greenhouse, (3) your child’s academic readiness and com-

patibility with other students at your child’s level, and (4) your child’s devel-

opment of moral reasoning and behavior. If your family is offered enrollment

(and most are!), you will have a few weeks to decide whether or not to enroll

for that year.

Does The Greenhouse welcome all families?For a family to be admitted to our core program, at least one parent must

have an active faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Beyond that, The Greenhouse

admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights,

privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to its

students. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and

ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies,

employment policies and other programs it administers.

Do you ever say “no”?We try to be so clear about our mission and programs that families can

ascertain for themselves whether or not it is a good fit. Occasionally, in the

interview process we see obstacles that might hinder a family’s successful

participation in the Greenhouse community. When that happens we discuss it

candidly with the parents. After listening, talking and praying, there are some

instances when we need to say “no” – or “not yet” – and we try to do so

with charity and hope. In any case, a student’s first term with The Green-

house is a trial period during which the family and staff confirm the fit.

A Brief HistoryThe idea of The Greenhouse grew from Jennifer

Spacek’s tenure as the first music teacher for a

similar ministry founded by Richard Patton in the

far west suburbs of Philadelphia in 1988. Finding

nothing comparable when they relocated to

Chicagoland, the Spaceks began praying

intermittently about seeing a center formed. Following a season of prayer

in late 1999, Tom Spacek approached the leaders at Church of the

Resurrection of Illinois about launching a classical, Christian learning

center. With their blessing, Tom gathered a team of nine people who

prayed, planned and prepared. After eighteen months, The Greenhouse

opened its doors on September 12, 2001. The first year comprised 35

students in grades 1-6 from 20 families, served by a faculty of five. A

second one-day program was started in 2002 and classes were added for

grades 7-8. The following year, we offered our first electives. In March

2004, The Greenhouse was incorporated as its own Illinois not-for-profit

corporation and is now recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as

federally tax-exempt under section 501(c)3. In the fall of 2004, a third

one-day program was added. Our Rhetoric program (for high school

students) was launched in the fall of 2007.

About Our NameA conventional greenhouse provides environmental controls and

nourishment to allow seedlings to mature into hearty plants. Similarly,

The Greenhouse offers academic, spiritual and relational nourishment in a

safe, wholesome and stimulating environment. By God’s grace, these

elements will strengthen youngsters in preparation for servant leadership

later in life. Such is our hope, our mission, and our prayer.

©2007 by The Greenhouse - Western Suburbs, NFP

602 E. Geneva Road, Wheaton, IL 60187

(630) 462-9657/ fax (630) 462-9658

office@the-greenhouse.com

www.the-greenhouse.com